Release device for the front tightening member of ski bindings



1964 A. GEMBRUCH JUN. 5

RELEASE DEVICE FOR THE FRONT TIGHTENING MEMBER OF SKI BINDINGS Filed April 17, 1962 INV EN TOR.

United States Patent 3,1 '7 ,4-99 Elf/ C3 Fill THE FRGNT TEGZTENING Lndenscheid, Germany No. 1%,176

11:15am men Filed Apr. 17 1962,

2 Claims. {$5. Edd-31.35)

The present invention relates to a release mechanism for the front tightening member of ski bindings, in which a support connected to the surface of the ski carries the bearing for the handle of the tighten ng member and also carries the spring-loaded spindle.

It is known to provide the cable clamp or another part of the front tightening member with an abutment so that response to a certain overload, the cable loop will bring bout an upward tilting and thus an opening of the tightenng member.

It has furthermore been suggested to provide the side wall of the U-shaped handle with inclined surfaces which cooperate with inclined mountings if the tightening member is displaced by the occurrence of an overload.

It is an object of the present invention further to improve the release mechanism of tightening members for skis of the above mentioned type.

This object and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side View of a release mechanism for the front tightening member of ski bindings in accordance with thv present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section through a portion of the cable clamp.

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line man of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line IV-IV of PEG. 3.

The present invention is characterized primarily in that the side walls of the tightening member of U-shaped cross section are provided with inclined surfaces and cooperate With corresponding inclined surfaces on a displaceable slide, and that furthermore a release nose is provided on the cable clamp. In this way, the tightening ember will be opened in two different ways when an overload should occur.

According to an embodiment which has proved highly success ul, a slide adjustable on a spindle and carrying release mountings is provided with a hook-shaped or similar abutment for cooperation with the release nose whereby a particularly simple construction for the front tightenin member will be obtained.

More specifically with regard to the drawing, the ski 1 has a base plate 8 bolted by four screws on the ski 1. The base plate 8 forms two lateral flanges 2. These lateral flanges 2 carry a housing 3 provided with corresponding lateral flanged portions (wings) 3a. A tightening member 1% and a spring 4 are pivotally journalled by a rivet 9 to the housing 3. At the other end of the spring 4 a spindle 5 is provided which is adjustable in a manner known per se by a nut 6. The nut 6 is held in a flanged portion 7 of the base plate 8. The tightening member 1% has journalled thereon a cable clamp 12, for instance by means of a rivet 11.

In the central portion of the base plate 8 between the lateral flanged portions (wings) 3a of the housing 3 there is provided a slide 13 with an upwardly bent portion 14 engaging a nut 15 which latter is displaceably mounted on and in threaded engagement with spindle 5. The slide 113 is arranged between the base plate 8 and the spring 4 situated in the housing 3. Both sides of slide 13 are provided with mountings 16 having inclined surfaces 17 for engagement with the inclined surfaces 18 of the tightening member lit when due to overload the tightening member is displaced over the cable clamp. More specifically, in a manner known per se, a wire loop which extendsaround the ski shoe is connected to the cable clamp 12. When a strong pull is exerted by the cable on the device, the de vice will through the intervention of said cable clamp be moved toward the right with regard to FIG. 1 whereby spring 4 will be tensioned. When this tension exceeds a certain magnitude, the surfaces 18 of the tightening member or spanner handle 10 slide over the inclined surfaces of the mountings 16 whereby the handle 1!) is tilted upwardly. As a result thereof the cable and thereby the ski shoe is released. I

In addition to this release mechanism, there is in conformity with the present invention provided a second release mechanism. To this end, the cable clamp 12 is provided with a release nose or hook 1? produced for instance by bending of the cable clamp (FIG. 2) into the shape of a nose 1.9. The slide 13 has that end thereof which is adjacent the nose 19 provided with an abutment 29. It will be appreciated that when the release nose 19 engages the abutment 2i and is displaced thereon, the cable clamp will be lifted so that in response to a further pulling stress exerted upon the ski, the tightening member will by said clamping member likewise be tilted into its release position.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular construction shown in the drawing but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A release mechanism for use in connection with a ski having a support connected thereto, a housing slidably guided on the support, a spindle adjustably mounted on the support, a spring connected to-the spindle at one end, a tightening member, pivot means connecting the other end of the spring and said tightening member to the housing, said release mechanism comprising lateral Wall members connected to said tightening member and dependent therefrom on opposite sides of the housing and pro vided with inclined surfaces, a slide adjustably connected With said release nose in response to an overload on said tightening member moving said cable clamp member to tend to release said tightening member.

2. A release mechanism according to claim 1, in which said release nose is located on the opposite side of the said pivot means or" said tightening member from said inclined surfaces.

References fired in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,793,046 Eckel May 21, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,034,246 France Apr. 8, 1953 1,115,441 France Jan. 3, 1956 1,231,395 France Apr. 11, 1960 198,615 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1938 

1. A RELEASE MECHANISM FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH A SKI HAVING A SUPPORT CONNECTED THERETO, A HOUSING SLIDABLY GUIDED ON THE SUPPORT, A SPINDLE ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT, A SPRING CONNECTED TO THE SPINDLE AT ONE END, A TIGHTENING MEMBER, PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING THE OTHER END OF THE SPRING AND SAID TIGHTENING MEMBER TO THE HOUSING, SAID RELEASE MECHANISM COMPRISING LATERAL WALL MEMBERS CONNECTED TO SAID TIGHTENING MEMBER AND DEPENDENT THEREFROM ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HOUSING AND PROVIDED WITH INCLINED SURFACES, A SLIDE ADJUSTABLY CONNECTED TO SAID SPINDLE SO AS TO BE DISPLACEABLE RELATIVE TO SAID TIGHTENING MEMBER AND PROVIDED WITH INCLINED SURFACE MEANS FOR SLIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID INCLINED SURFACES IN RESPONSE TO AN OVERLOAD ON SAID TIGHTENING MEMBER FOR 